19th Century European Art

It’s wise to keep a lid on estimates for traditional pictures where condition and market freshness is lacking

Rediscovered work inspired by Goethe emerges at auction in Germany

Early on in his career, which spanned most of the 19th century, Johann Wilhelm Preyer decided to paint only still-lifes. He studied at the academy in Düsseldorf and was one of the leading lights in what was to become the Düsseldorf School of painters.

Running for the first time under new ownership Master Drawings New York (MDNY) produced strong results for many of its exhibitors, including London dealer Guy Peppiatt.

Portrait of monarch impresses as château of the Comtes de Marcellus delivers treasures to auction

A lot in a recent Andrew Jones (25% buyer’s premium) auction that will doubtless merit further research was an early 19th century French self-portrait.

Without doubt, the sensation of the German auction season was the emergence of a sketchbook belonging to the German romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich at Grisebach (32/27% buyer’s premium) in Berlin.

On the third day of Austin Auction Gallery’s (22% buyer’s premium) September 22-24 sale this portrait of Napoleon hammered for $15,000 (£12,400) – a multiple of the estimate of $800-1200.

Long before the days of photo-realism, artists created remarkably accurate depictions of their subject matter.

This unframed 8 x 11in (20½ x 28cm) oil sketch of the Swiss village of Dardagny is signed for Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (1796-1875).

Famous Frenchman has amassed an impressive wide-ranging array of acquisitions over six decades

A drawing of Jean François Millet’s (1814-75) most famous image generated unexpected levels of bidding in Alameda, California.

A canvas by the Romantic painter Carl Gustav Carus (1789-1869) went for many times the guide at Kinsky (28% buyer’s premium) in Vienna.

Olympia Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) reported some significant overseas interest at its latest Fine Paintings, Works on Paper & Sculpture auction with almost a third of buyers from outside the UK.

Like many of his colleagues, the Hungarian painter Mihály Munkácsy (1844-1900) visited the major art centres of his day, such as Munich and Düsseldorf, before finally settling in Paris in 1871.

Top lot of Dorotheum’s (25/20.84% buyer’s premium) Viennese sale of 19th century paintings on May 2 lived up to its expectations.

The two-day sale of works from the French dealership Talabardon & Gautier was held at Drouot by Ader (28% buyer’s premium)